Lagerstroemia plant named ‘Lipipetz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Lagerstroemia cultivar named ‘Lipipetz’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact, freely-branching growth habit with a generally round shape, dense foliage, an abundance of pink flowers borne on terminal panicles from summer into early fall, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Lagerstroemia disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘Lipipetz’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘Lipipetz’ is a seedling selection resulting from the open pollination of Lagerstroemia hybrid ‘Hopi’ (not patented) performed by the inventor at his commercial ornamental plant nursery in Coatesville, Pa. on Sep. 1, 2006. Having grown several varieties of Lagerstroemia that performed well in his climate, the inventor endeavored to develop new cultivars with favorable gene expression using one such cultivar, Lagerstroemia hybrid ‘Hopi’, as the seed parent. Mature ‘Hopi’ plants were grown in close proximity to a number of additional cultivars, to facilitate cross pollination. Seed was subsequently collected from these ‘Hopi’ plants, germinated, and the seedlings grown to a mature size in order to evaluate the progeny for unique characteristics which may be of commercial value. In September of 2008, one such seedling was observed to possess a more compact growth habit relative to the parent plant and other progeny plants. The plant was isolated for propagation and further evaluation and given the name, ‘Lipipetz’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘Lipipetz’, by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first performed in June of 2009 in Coatesville, Pa. Through three subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Lipipetz’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Lipipetz’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Lipipetz’ as a new and distinct Lagerstroemia hybrid cultivar:

-   -   1. Lagerstroemia ‘Lipipetz’ exhibits a compact, freely-branching         growth habit with dense foliage; and     -   2. Lagerstroemia ‘Lipipetz’ exhibits a generally round shape;         and     -   3. Lagerstroemia ‘Lipipetz’ exhibits an abundance of pink         flowers borne on terminal panicles from summer and into early         fall, weather depending; and     -   4. Lagerstroemia ‘Lipipetz’ exhibits lateral branches with         excellent cold hardiness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the original ‘Lipipetz’ plant at approximately 10 years old, field-grown in Coatesville, Pa. The photograph was taken in late July and illustrates the summer bloom habit.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the original ‘Lipipetz’ plant at approximately 9 years old, field-grown in Coatesville, Pa. The photograph was taken in mid-September and illustrates the continued blooming into late summer.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, a comparison of ‘Lipipetz’ (right) with the parent plant, ‘Hopi’ (left). Both plants were rooted in mist chamber in mid-June of 2016 and grown in a 3 inch nursery pots, in an unheated poly greenhouse, until time of photo on Nov. 30, 2016. Of note is the more compact growth habit of ‘Lipipetz’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary inflorescence of ‘Lipipetz’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2016 and, unless otherwise indicated, describe a six month old potted ‘Lipipetz’ plant grown in a poly greenhouse in Coatesville, Pa. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Lipipetz’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘Lipipetz’ and comparisons with the parent plants and most similar commercial Lagerstroemia cultivar known to the inventor are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Perennial flowering shrub.         -   Plant shape.—Rounded.         -   Average height.—Approximately 125 cm when fully matured.         -   Average width.—Approximately 125 cm when fully matured.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation details.—Asexual propagation may be accomplished             by both softwood and hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 21 days are required             to initiate roots from a softwood cutting; approximately 3             to 4 months are required for hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to produce a marketable rooted cutting.—Approximately 6             to 8 weeks when propagated in the spring.         -   Time to produce a marketable 1 gallon potted             plant.—Approximately 12 months.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of             Lagerstroemia have been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to USDA Zones 5 to 11;             drought resistant once established. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense             rooting.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—One main stem, itself freely branching, and             giving rise to numerous lateral branches.         -   Aspect.—Average angle is approximately 60 degrees from main             stem.         -   Cross section.—Quadrangulate with small winged appendages             approximately 0.5 mm tall.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Length of lateral branches.—22.5 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Averaging 0.25 cm at the base.         -   Internode length on lateral branches.—Approximately 1.25 to             2.5 cm.         -   Texture, pubescence and luster of lateral branches.—Smooth,             glabrous, and matte.         -   Color, juvenile.—A mixture of greyed-red, RHS 178A, and             greyed-orange, RHS 176A.         -   Color, mature.—A mixture of yellow-green, RHS 152A, and             greyed-brown; RHS 199A, 199B, and 199D.         -   Color at internodes.—Greyed-brown, RHS 199D.         -   Bark.—Exfoliating in stripes; color is brown, nearest to RHS             200B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—24.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 4.6 cm long and 2.8 cm wide, on             average. Shape — Ovate. Aspect — Involute. Apex — Bluntly             acuminate. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Finely serrulate.             Pubescence, adaxial surface — Glabrous. Texture and luster             of adaxial surface — Smooth and moderately glossy.             Pubescence, abaxial surface — Glabrous. Texture and luster             of abaxial surface — Smooth and moderately glossy. Color —             Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 146A, and finely margined greyed-red, RHS 178A. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 146B, and             suffused with greyed-red, RHS 178A, towards the margins and             apex. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — In between             yellow-green, RHS 147A, and green, RHS 137A. Mature foliage,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B.             Venation — Pattern — Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, RHS 146A, and suffused with greyed-orange, RHS             176D, at the base and along the proximal one-third portion             of the midrib. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS             146D, and suffused with greyed-orange, RHS 176B, at the             base.         -   Petiole.—Length — 1.0 mm. Width — 1.25 mm. Texture —             Glabrous; smooth. Luster — Moderately glossy. Strength —             Strong. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 146A, and             suffused with greyed-orange, RHS 176D. Color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, RHS 146D, and suffused with             greyed-orange, RHS 176B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Panicle.         -   Natural flowering season.—Late June through September in             Coatesville, Pa.         -   Flowering habit.—Some recurrent blooming on same panicle.         -   Inflorescence dimensions.—Up to 150 mm long and 100 mm             across.         -   Inflorescence quantity.—One panicle occurring at the end of             every lateral branch.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—20 to 100 florets per             panicle.         -   Primary peduncle.—Attitude/aspect — 0 degrees to the lateral             branch; that is, the primary peduncle, as described herein,             is the terminal portion on the lateral branch. Dimensions —             95 mm long and 3.0 mm in diameter at the base. Color — A             mixture of greyed-red, RHS 178A, and greyed-orange, RHS             176A. Texture and luster of lateral branches — Glabrous, and             matte. Strength — Strong.         -   Secondary peduncles.—Attitude/aspect — At an angle of             approximately 30 to 45 degrees to the primary peduncle.             Dimensions — 23 mm long and 1.5 mm in diameter. Color — A             mixture of greyed-red, RHS 178A, and greyed-orange, RHS             176A. Texture and luster — Finely pubescent and matte.             Strength — Moderately strong.         -   Pedicels.—Attitude/aspect — At an angle of approximately 30             degrees to the secondary peduncle. Dimensions — 5 mm long             and 0.75 mm in diameter. Color — Yellow-green, RHS 144D, and             suffused with greyed-red, RHS 178A. Texture and luster —             Smooth, glabrous and matte. Strength — Moderately strong. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Bud shape.—Globose.         -   Bud dimensions.—6 to 7 mm long and 5.5 to 6.5 mm in             diameter.         -   Bud color.—Yellow-green, RHS 144D, and heavily suffused with             greyed-red, RHS 178A. -   Flower:     -   -   Flower type.—Perfect.         -   Flower shape.—Rotate.         -   Persistence.—Not persistent.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward facing.         -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.         -   Perianth dimensions.—3.0 cm in diameter and 2.0 cm tall.         -   Calyx.—Calyx shape — Campanulate. Calyx dimensions — 6 to 7             mm in diameter and 5.5 to 6.5 mm deep. Sepals — Sepal             arrangement — Rotate; fused at the base with 6 ovate sepal             lobes. Number of sepal lobes — 6. Sepal lobe margins —             Entire; not undulated. Sepal lobe apex — Acute. Sepal base —             Fused. Sepal texture — Smooth; glabrous. Sepal color, upper             surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144D, and lightly suffused with             greyed-red, RHS 178A. Sepal color, lower surface —             Yellow-green, RHS 144D, and lightly suffused with             greyed-red, RHS 178A.         -   Corolla.—Petal arrangement — Rotate; petals arranged in a             single whorl. Petal quantity — 6. Petals fused or unfused —             Unfused. Petal dimensions — Approximately 15 to 20 mm long             and 15 mm wide. Petal shape — Ovate. Petal apex — Rounded.             Petal base — Sagittate. Petal margin — Crenate; highly             undulated. Petal texture — Glabrous. Petal luster — Matte to             satiny. Petal color when opening (upper side) — Red, a             mixture of RHS 54C to 54D. Petal color when opening (under             side) — Red, nearest to RHS 54D. Petal color when fully             opened (upper side) — Red, nearest to RHS 54B. Petal color             when fully opened (under side) — Red, nearest to RHS 54B.             Petal color fading to — Not fading. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen quantity — 23. Filament — Dimensions —             Approximately 4 mm long and approximately 0.25 mm in             diameter. Color — Red, near RHS 36D, and suffused with red,             RHS 55B. Anther — Anther attachment — Dorsifixed. Anther             shape — Oblong. Anther size — 1.0 to 1.25 mm long and 0.75             mm in diameter. Anther color — Yellow, RHS 13B. Pollen —             Amount of pollen — Moderately abundant. Pollen color —             Yellow, RHS 13B.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity — One. Stigma — Shape — Round.             Dimensions — Approximately 0.75 mm across and 0.75 mm tall.             Color — Yellow-green, RHS 144C. Style — Dimensions — 5 mm             long and 0.5 mm in diameter. Color — Yellow-green, RHS 144C.             Ovary — Position — Superior. Shape — Globose. Diameter —             2 mm. Color — Yellow-green, RHS 144C. -   Seed and fruit: Globose, six-valved dehiscent capsule which is     approximately 6 mm in diameter and 6 mm long; color is yellow-green,     RHS 144B, and maturing to brown, RHS 200C. Seed has not been     observed.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Lipipetz’ may be distinguished from its parent, Lagerstroemia ‘Hopi’ (not patented), which is also the most similar known commercial comparator, by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Lipipetz’ ‘Hopi’ Mature plant size. Smaller than ‘Hopi’. Larger than ‘Lipipetz’. Internode length Approximately Approximately along the main stem. .25 to 2.5 cm. 5 to 10 cm. Leaf size. Leaves are smaller. Leaves are larger. Rate of maturity of Lateral branches become Softwood is still present the lateral branches. woody by late summer. into early fall. Lateral branch More hardy than ‘Hopi’. Less hardy hardiness. than ‘Lipipetz’.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMMERCIAL COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Lipipetz’ are similar in growth habit to the commercial variety, Lagerstroemia ‘Velma's Royal Delight’ (not patented). However, ‘Lipipetz’ differs from ‘Velma's Royal Delight’ by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Lipipetz’ ‘Velma's Royal Delight’ Mature plant size. Approximately 125 cm Upwards of 180 to 250 cm tall and 125 cm wide. tall and 180 cm wide. General coloration Pink. Deep magenta. of the flower. Lateral branch More hardy than ‘Hopi’. Less hardy than ‘Lipipetz’. hardiness. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lagerstroemia plant named ‘Lipipetz’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 